Awards keep pouring in for Prohibition Liquor Co

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Small batch gin producer Prohibition Liquor Co has scooped more than 20 awards across the globe in the past two years, but it was a recent gong awarded here in Adelaide which had its co-founders feeling most nervous.

Prohibition scored a gold and bronze medal at the Tasting Australia Spirit Awards in Adelaide earlier this month, just a day after taking two gongs on the other side of the world.

Its Original gin won gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition while its 69% Bathtub Cut gin took silver.

This year’s competition hit a record 2253 entries from all corners of the world.

Prohibition Original Gin, Meaghan Coles Photography.

“San Francisco is a huge event with thousands of entries, so a great one for us to collect gold and silver medals,” says Prohibition co-founder Adam Carpenter.

“But in a way I was more nervous about the event here in Adelaide.

“We’ve won more than 20 awards all over the world in the past two years, but this is the first time we have been able to enter an event in our hometown Adelaide.”

Prohibition’s other half, Wes Heddles, says the San Francisco and Tasting Australia wins highlight how world class spirits are being made here in South Australia.

“We’ve won medals at every awards show we’ve ever entered,” he says.

“It’s been a bit of a dream run for Prohibition since early 2016 with our first win in the Melbourne International Spirits Competition, followed by Hong Kong, New York, London and Las Vegas.

“A double gold last year in Las Vegas was a huge moment for us too, and the fact that both gins have been recognised all over the world shows that we are on the right track with the product and the ability to expand our export markets.”

In December 2017, Prohibition opened Adelaide’s first CBD distillery door on Gilbert Street, offering gin flights to visitors.

“We have over 60 gins on the shelf and we can tell you a unique story about all of them,” Adam says.

“This is just not a Prohibition gin house, it is a true SA and Australian craft spirit showcase – many of which we have been given by the makers with the story to share about what makes them unique too.”

The distillery door and tasting room also offers local craft beers, wines and local produce, including antipasto plates and gourmet toasties.

Meaghan Coles Photography.

Prohibition’s gin is still contract-distilled at Applewood Distillery in Gumeracha in the Adelaide Hills.

However, Adam and Wes say they plan to have a still operating at the Gilbert Street location to supplement production by the end of 2018.

“We already bottle and distribute from Gilbert Street, but it won’t be long until we have a beautiful still running, for additional production here,” Wes adds.

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